Schools plan slammed

AN OLDHAM MP has slammed government plans to allow “free schools” claiming they will create division and segregation which could set Oldham back 20 years.

Phil Woolas, Oldham East and Saddleworth MP and Labour’s shadow immigration minister, said allowing faith groups or parents to create so-called free schools was a recipe for disaster.

The Academies Bill will allow all schools to apply for academy status, to be free of local authority control and set their own curriculum.

Mr Woolas said: “Free schools are a con on the students and parents.

“They are a recipe for division and I do not think the taxpayer wants its money spent on a free-for-all.

“This policy will untangle into an educational shambles.

“We could have any group setting up with its own school at the expense of other children in the area.

“It will cause division and chaos.

“The whole idea is local authorities have some power otherwise chaos ensues.

“In Oldham, this could set us back 20 years.”

Last month, a Freedom of Information request revealed eight schools across Oldham had expressed an interest in becoming an academy.

They were St Chad’s CE Primary School, St Joseph’s RC Junior and Infant and Nursery School, Limeside Primary School, Mills Hill Primary School, Glodwick Infants and Nursery, Blue Coat, New Bridge and Saddleworth School.

However, Jack Hulme, Oldham Council’s Cabinet member for children and families, said he was only aware of one possible application and was not sure whether that was going ahead.

He added: “Nobody has provided any details as to what exactly these ‘free schools’ mean.

“Oldham Council can’t come to any measured judgement, we will have to wait and see what information we get from government.”

The Government is under fire for trying to rush through the legislation before the Commons breaks for its summer recess next week.

Many MPs fear allowing faith groups to set up schools will create division across the county and damage previous efforts of community cohesion.

Schools Secretary Michael Gove rejected claims the Bill was being pushed through and said there was ‘ample time’ for it to be discussed.

The government has taken the unusual step of compressing the parliamentary process by taking what is known as the “committee stage” - where a panel of MPs scrutinises a bill - in the Commons.

This compressed process is usually reserved for anti-terror laws and constitutional matters.

Now MPs have just five hours to debate the proposals.

Ministers want the Bill passed by next week so some schools can become academies by September.